Global Category Manager, Electronics Passives

Your Job

As the Global Category Manager for passive electronic components-capacitors, magnetics (such as inductors, ferrite bead, transformers), and resistors-you will develop and execute a global category strategy supporting innovation and scale across Molex’s five divisions. Your priorities will be supply assurance, competitive cost structures, and faster new product introductions. You will build and manage a world-class global supply base, drive supplier performance, and align supplier capabilities and technology roadmaps with Molex’s product roadmaps. Working with R&D, Product Development, Business Units, architecture teams, and global supply chain partners, you will translate category strategy into sourcing decisions and long-term value. You will lead requests for information (RFIs), requests for quotation (RFQs), supplier business reviews, and technology roadmap discussions, and provide market intelligence and quarterly category insights to senior leaders. Supplier relationship management and continuous improvement will be central to your success in the passive electronic components category. This role is based in Lisle, IL, with an expectation to work onsite four days per week when not traveling and requires up to 40% domestic and international travel.

Our Team

Molex brings together innovation and technology to deliver electronic solutions to customers worldwide. With presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a full suite of solutions and services for many markets, including data communications, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle and medical.

What You Will Do

• Lead the global strategy and execution for Molex’s Passives category in a highly visible Global Category Manager role with broad business impact
• Build and shape a world-class electronics passives supply base that supports all five Molex divisions and enables speed, flexibility, and resilience in a fast-paced global market
• Partner across functions to define and manage the preferred supplier list (PSL) and approved parts list (APL), guiding supplier selection, segmentation, and performance. Align supplier technology roadmaps with Molex product innovation.
• Collaborate with Business Units, Regional Category Managers, R&D, Sourcing Engineering, and New Product Development teams to translate category strategy into action and ensure the supply base supports both technical requirements and commercial growth objectives
• Influence product economics from the start by engaging suppliers early in new product development, optimizing initial cost structures, and delivering sustainable savings through multi-sourcing and value engineering
• Build strategic partnerships with passive electronic component suppliers and develop influential executive-level relationships. Strengthen these relationships through business reviews, technology roadmap sessions, industry events, and supplier performance engagements.
• Champion supply assurance across the full product lifecycle from new product development and mass production through end-of-life transitions while driving process improvements that deliver best-in-class results
• Lead requests for information (RFIs) to support total cost of ownership (TCO) assessments. Establish best practices for evaluating and capturing cost advantages across supplier manufacturing locations and Molex production facilities.
• Lead requests for quotation (RFQs) and develop negotiation strategies using component pricing, target cost analysis, and market intelligence. Deliver measurable savings, maximize business value, and support Molex’s cost reduction objectives.
• Partner with Engineering to develop and manage a multi-year pipeline of value analysis and value engineering (VAVE) initiatives that deliver measurable, realized value across Molex divisions
• Serve as a key conduit across Molex and the supplier ecosystem, partnering with architecture and development teams, product managers, factories, supplier business leaders, and the broader Molex Supply Chain organization
• Apply deep electronics passives industry expertise and market intelligence to anticipate emerging opportunities and risks, develop actionable insights, and guide critical sourcing and business decisions

• Engage and influence senior leaders within Molex and across the supplier community through clear, persuasive communication and executive-ready recommendations

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management within electronic components.
• Experience managing passive electronic components, particularly capacitors, magnetics, and/or resistors.
• Demonstrated experience leading global sourcing, supplier negotiations, and supply assurance strategies.
• Strong business acumen and ability to influence cross-functional and global stakeholders without direct authority.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally approximately 20% to 40%.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Direct category management experience with capacitors/MLCCs and magnetics.
• Experience managing large global categories, strategic suppliers, and complex pricing or capacity negotiations.
• Experience supporting data communications, AI infrastructure, or other high-growth electronics markets.
• Experience partnering with Engineering, Product Development, and global manufacturing teams.
• Mandarin or Japanese language skills.

For this role, we anticipate paying $110,000 - $140,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.

Who We Are

As a Koch company, Molex is a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect components, driving innovation in electronics and supporting industries from automotive to health care and consumer to data communications. The thousands of innovators who work for Molex have made us a global electronics leader. Our experienced people, groundbreaking products and leading-edge technologies help us deliver a wider array of solutions to more markets than ever before.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Our Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aquí, or tu).